07/17/26 Hour 2: WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley Talks Josh Whitman's New Contract; Caleb Williams & NFL Players Demand Grass Fields; Friday Toasts
About this episode
Glenn Kinley discusses Josh Whitman's contract extension and the NFL's push for natural grass fields.
WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley joins the show to break down Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman's newly announced contract extension. What does it say about the direction of Illinois Athletics, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for Whitman as the Illini continue to build momentum across multiple sports? Then, a growing movement across the NFL has taken center stage as Caleb Williams and several other players are calling on the league to permanently replace artificial turf with natural grass fields. We'll discuss the latest push for safer playing surfaces, whether the NFL is finally ready to make the change, and what it could mean for teams around the league. We'll wrap up the week with our Friday Toasts—celebrating the biggest winners, memorable moments, and people deserving recognition from the past week in sports, while maybe handing out a few light-hearted roasts along the way. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
More episodes of The Drive on ESPN 93.5
- 07/20/26 Hour 2: Cardinals Trade Deadline Decisions, Angels Series Preview, Ryan Clark Out at ESPN
- 07/20/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football Schedule Breakdown, Spain Wins the World Cup, Cardinals Collapse vs. D-Backs
- 07/17/26 Hour 1: Tory Tekyl Is Illinois Football's New Executive Director; Adam Wainwright Defends Cardinals Fans Against Barstool Sports; Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks & Cubs vs. Twins Preview
- 07/16/26 Hour 1: Scott Spiezio Talks Cardinals, New Book & Documentary; Brian Teague Breaks Down Illini in NBA Summer League, Bulls, and Caitlin Clark vs WNBA Officiating
- 07/16/26 Hour 1:Illinois Headlines Josh Whitman Extension, Kylan Boswell's NBA Summer League Breakout & David Mirkovic's Wooden Award Buzz With Cooper O'Kelly
- 07/15/26 Hour 2: Carson Gourdie Talks Illinois Basketball Expectations | Is Michigan Still the Biggest Big Ten Threat? | 2026 MLB All-Star Draft Results
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